`Canes Don`t Miss, Except In Win Column

With the Hurricanes trailing 90-87 with one second remaining, Hocker went to the free-throw line to shoot 1-and-1. An 87 percent shooter, he swished the first, then intended to miss the second so UM could get the rebound and try to tie the game.

Instead, Hocker`s intentional miss hit the backboard and went cleanly through the hoop to make the score 90-89. Dayton inbounded the ball and the final second expired.

``I was trying to get it off the back of the board, then off the front of the rim,`` Hocker said. ``I just threw it up and whatever happened, happened. I couldn`t believe it. I couldn`t miss even when I wanted to.``

It was a fitting ending to a frustrating game for the Hurricanes (16-14), only their second loss in the last six road games. Dennis Burns led UM with 31 points, Tito Horford scored 24 and Eric Brown added 14 points and 12 rebounds.

``Several times we put ourselves in a position to be out of the game,`` said UM coach Bill Foster. ``But our guys came back, came back and came back. As luck would have it, it wasn`t enough.``

After leading by as many as 10 in the first half, Miami fell behind by seven in the second before mounting a late comeback.

With Dayton leading 62-57 and 15:47 left, Burns turned in what could have been the play of the game, dunking a missed shot by Horford. But Burns was called for fouling Pittman and Dayton turned its next possession into a slam dunk and a seven-point lead.

``If that would have gone, it would have been a totally different game,`` Burns said. ``(Pittman) even told me it wasn`t a foul.``

The call was one of several that angered Foster, who called two of the three officials ``idiots`` and said they were ``either incompetent or need an honesty test.``

Foster also was angered by three second-half fouls called on Horford, all for holding on the defensive end. Horford picked up his fourth foul with 13:13 left, sat out nearly four minutes, then played tentatively the rest of the game.

The Hurricanes got within one point six times in the last eight minutes, but couldn`t get past Dayton. The last time came on a 3-point basket by Hocker with seven seconds left to cut the lead to 88-87.

Pittman was fouled on the inbounds and made two free throws to make it 90-87. Hocker took the inbounds pass from Bruce Moore and drove the court before being fouled by Knight with one second remaining.

Despite the loss, Foster said Miami is still being considered for a bid to the National Invitation Tournament.

``We`re the third independent on their list, behind Notre Dame and DePaul,`` Foster said. ``They`ve been talking with (Athletic Director Sam) Jankovich about it. They`re either going to pick us or they won`t go with an independent.``

Jankovich was not as optimistic.

``We would have had a great chance if we had won tonight,`` he said. ``Now we`re borderline. My guess is we`re very marginal.``

The NIT is meeting today and Jankovich will lobby for UM over the phone.

Miami has one regular-season game remaining Saturday night against Florida International at 7:30 p.m. at the Knight Center.

Foster said Burns` emergence as an exciting offensive player will help the Hurricanes into the NIT, along with Horford`s reputation and Miami`s recent road performances. Burns` 31 points eclipsed his previous career high of 29, set against Duke last season and equaled this year against Alabama State.

``Burns is the biggest difference between now and last year,`` said Dayton coach Don Donoher, whose team beat UM 92-78 last year in Miami. ``He`s so hard to stop because he`s such a great athlete. They could make a highlight tape that would knock your eyes out.``

Horford carried the Hurricanes early in the first half scoring 12 of Miami`s first 22 points over the first seven minutes. UM led 22-14 at that point and led by 10, 32-22,with 9:17 remaining. Horford didn`t score in the half after 13:08 remained.

``If he would have kept playing at that pace he would have had 50,`` Foster said. ``It`s a disappointing loss. That would have been five of six on the road and it`s never easy to do that.``